Apparatus for sizing articles



April 20, 1965 K. F. RUSSELL APPARATUS FOR SIZING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29. 1961 KENNETH INVBNTOR. Russsu.

TOEIVEYS- April 20, 1965 K. F. RUSSELL APPARATUS FOR SIZING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 29. 1961 INVENTOR.

TOkA/EYS.

KENNETH 1E Russ-EM.

April 20, 1965 K. F. RUSSELL APPARATUS FOR SIZING ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Shut 3 Filed May 29. 1961 MM flrraen/Eys.

April 1965 K. F. RUSSELL 3,179,249

APPARATUS FOR SIZING ARTICLES Filed May 29. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 flrraeusys.

means.

United States Patent Ice I 3,179,249 N APPARATUS FDR SIZING ARTICLES Kenneth F. Russell, Pomona, Califi, assignor to Iirogdex Company, Pomona, Califi, a corporation of California Filed May 29, 1961, Ser. No. 113,304 7 Claims. (Cl. 2tl9-1ti6) This invention relates to an apparatus for sizing articles of variable size, form and volume such as potatoes, grapefruit, oranges, lemons and other kinds of produce.

Prior proposed machines for sizing such articles have included various constructions and arrangements for orienting such articles and then progressively separating the articles from small size to large size. Some prior proposed machines have included an endless conveyor provided with transversely extending sizing rolls interconnected at their adjacent ends by a complex linkage means so as to permit said sizing rolls to become progressively spaced further apart during advancement of the conveyor. Such progressive separation of the sizing rolls has been heretofore provided by track means including inclined, tapered or converging track surfaces which are engaged by Wheels or track rollers carried by such complex linkage The connection between the track rollers and the linkage means heretofore included offset or cantilever link constructions wherein wheels supporting a sizing roll were disposed in a plane spaced from the plane in which the linkage was supported and made operable. This construction produced rapid wear of bearings on the sizing rolls and on track and linkage rollers. Such constructions of prior proposed sizing machines were thus relatively complicated, expensive to manufacture because of special construction, and required continuous maintenance and care.

This invention contemplates a novel apparatus for sizing such articles which obviates many of the disadvantages of the prior proposed sizing machines and which provides a simple, eifective, less expensive sizing apparatus having a novel mode of operation. The present invention contemplates 2. sizing apparatus capable of sizing by volume as well as by dimensional size, and employing a simple, effective arrangement for mounting sizing rolls while using a well known form of roller chain.

Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates an apparatus for sizing such articles including an endless conveyor means comprising a plurality of transversely extending parallel sizing rolls having specially contoured grommets thereon for'sizing substantially in accordance with volume of the article. Along each side of the conveyor means are provided track means including opposed top and bottom track grooves or guide tracks facing each other intermediate track rollers engage the upper guide i track. Means including a floating biased sprocket at the discharge end of the conveyor means serves to impart to the chain meanssufiicient compressive forces against the direction of movement of the chain means so that the track rollers are forced into alternate engagementwith the bottom and top guide tracks. The tracks are vertically spaced; the upper track being selectively downwardly inclined through a sizing section ofthe conveyor means so that as the sizing rolls are advanced toward the end of the apparatus they are progressively urged into further spaced relation to therebyprovide progressively larger openings for permitting larger articles to pass between the sizing rolls. A single drive means may be provided for driving a pair-of front sprockets which may. have a direct drive 3,179,249 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 connection with the pair of rear sprockets which are floatingly biased toward the front sprockets, all of said sprockets being rotated at virtually the same rate of rotation.

A primary object of this invention, therefore, is to disclose and provide a novel apparatus for sizing articles of variable form and volume, such as potatoes, citrus fruit, and the like.

An object of the invention is to disclose and provide such a sizing apparatus including a simple effective means for mounting sizing rolls.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a sizing apparatus including track means for supporting and progressively spacing the sizing rolls in a positive manner.

Another object of the invention is to disclose and provide sizing rolls provided with grommets for selectively positioning and orienting articles to be sized according to volume.

Still another object of the invention is to disclose and provide a sizing apparatus having track means for variably spacing sizing rolls and wherein said track means may be readily adjusted along its length for a selected sizing classification.

A more specific object of the invention is to disclose and provide a novel means for holding a roller chain means under selected compressive forces acting in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the' chain means so as to assist in maintaining selected folded relation of chain links and spaced relation of alternate rollers of said chain means.

A still further specific object of this invention is to disclose and provide a track means wherein an endless roller chain means may be introduced thereto in such manner that chain rollers are alternately directed toward top and bottom guide tracks for forming said chain means into compact folded relation.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon the following description of the drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sizing apparatus embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side view of the feed end of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is'a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line IVIV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line VI-VI of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the apparatus adjacent FIG. 6 with the top track removed; FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken in the plane. indicated by line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6; g

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the discharge end of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line XX of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line XI XI of FIG. 2 with the sizing rolls omitted; i

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view from the right of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of composite curves.

plotted to determine the exterior surface configuration of In general, an apparatus generally indicated at 20 embodying this invention may comprise a frame means 21 well known suitable manner.

means 23 which is guided along said track means 22, sizing rolls 24 connected with said chain means and extending transversely of the frame means, and means 26 associated with the chain means and the drive means for holding the chain means in desired compact folded or extended relation.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus may include a feed end at 30 to which articles to be sized may be fed in any At feed end 30, all of the articles are oriented and distributed upon the sizing rolls 24 which are in closely spaced adjacent relation. As the articles are moved along the frame means 21 they are introduced to a sizing section El of the apparatus 2% wherein the smaller articles are first separated from the other articles by the spacing between the sizing rolls 24. In the sizing section 31 the articles separated fall upon transversely moving conveyor belts 32 and 33 which may be provided with selectively spaced dividers 34 so as to group the articles according to a selected limited range of size and transport the sized articles to a collecting area. Any articles which are not separated in vthe sizing section 31 may be discharged at the discharge end 34 of the conveyor onto another transversely moving conveyor belt 35 which will convey any remaining oversized articles to a suitable collecting area.

The frame means 2iv may comprise a plurality of suitably'interconnected structural frame members. In this example, upstanding end and intermediate frame members 38 and 3% along each side of the frame means may be interconnected 'by transverse frame members 40 and ilt. Along each side of the frame means 21 may be provided suitable side frame members such as 42 and 43. The upper ends of the upstanding frame members '33 and 3h may be interconnected by an upwardly inclined channel section member 45 which terminates adjacent the end of a longitudinally extending channel section member 46 which extends for the remaining length of the frame means. The channel section members 45 and 4d provide frame supports for the track means 22. It will be understood that any suitable structural members may be used in fabricating the frame means 21 and that for strength and rigidity, as desired, other frame constructions may be employed.

The track means 22 includes 'at the feed section 36 a pair of uniformly spaced apart longitudinally extending parallel angle section members 43 and 49 (FIG. 6) secured to the web of the channel section member 45 as by a plurality of spaced nut and bolt assemblies Each angle section member 48 and '49 may be approximately the same size and may be disposed on web 45a in similar manner'with inwardly extending horizontal legs 51 and 52 lying or disposed directly opposite each other. A guide track 53 having a downwardly facing groove 54 may be provided on the'bottom face of leg 51 by a suitable bar 55 having secured to its bottom face parallel spaced metal strips 56 defining tlierebetween the track groove 54. The bar 55 may be secured to leg 51 by a plurality of longitudinally spaced cap screws 57 or by other suitable means such as welding.

In similar manner, the upper surface of leg 52 may carry a bar 59 provided with parallel spaced metal strips db defining therebetween a track groove 61, said bar 59 eing secured as by cap screws 62 in suitable longitudinal spaced relation along leg 52. There is thus provided on the members 48 and 49 a pair of opposed top and bottom guide tracks defined by the guide grooves 54 and ll,

respectively, which are disposed in directly opposed faceto-face relation.

In the sizing section 31 of the apparatus 20 the track means 22 includes a similar track construction as above described (FIG. 6) with the exception that the top angle sectionmember 48 is secured to the web of the channel section frame member 46 in'non-parallel converging rela- 4 and are indicated herein as top track groove 54' and bottom track groove 61'. in this example, the upper guide track 54 converges at a preselected slope with the bottom horizontal guide track 61' so that at the end 64 of said track means 22 the guide tracks are spaced apart only slightly greater than the rollers of the roller chain means 23. it will be understood that the upper track groove 48' may be disposed in other than continuous straight converging relation as shown with respect to the bottom track at and, if desl ed, may be comprised of a plurality of stepped track sections which progressively decrease the vertical space between the track grooves in order to achieve desired group separation of articles which may have ditferent sizing characteristics. It will be readily apparent that since the upper angle section member 43" carrying top guide track 54- is secured to the frame rnember td as by selectively spaced nut and bolt assemblies 5t) that any desired arrangement or adjustability of i the top guide track 54' with respect to the bottom track guide d1 may be readily made by simply providing a different arrangement of spaced holes in the web so as to selectively space the top guide track from the bottom guide track.

The chain means 23 may be a well known standard type of roller chain means comprising a plurality of links 7 nected by shaft extension 7% to the roller 68 of the chain means which engages the bottom track 61 of the track means.

Means to protect and guard the track means and the roller chain means 23 operable therein and to also prevent mutilation and damage to articles being fed to sizing rolls 24 may comprise a top guard wall 74 secured to the top flange of the channel section member 45 in any suitable manner, said top guard wall 74 having an inner depending lip 75 provided with an adjustable connect-ion to a generally inwardly and downwardly bent depending side wall 76. The side wall 76 extends into proximity with the sizing roll 24 as shown at 77 and the bottom longitudinal edges of the side wall 76 may be provided with suitable brackets 78 for connecting thereto'a resilient longitudinally extending tube 79 of suitable material with such as Neoprene for sealing the space between the sizing rolls 24 and the bottom edge of the guard side wall 76. Walls 74 and 7 d may extend for the length of the track means 22.

The chain means 23 may be an endless chain means and g ing dip 82 the bottom run of the chain means extends horizontally along a section at 83 and is then directedup: wardly into the incoming or infeed section of the top run of the chain means. The chain reservoir dip 82 in the path of travel of the bottom run of the chain means provides ample space for collecting or accumulating a sufiicient amount of roller'chain so that it may be uniformly fed to the upper lay of the chain means without stretching or tensioning of the chain means.

Means for driving the endless roller chain mean 23 and for moving the transverse sizing rolls 24-connected therewith along the upper run of the chain means may comprise a pair of front sprockets S5 and a pair of back sprockets 86. The pair of front sprockets 85 may be interconnected by a sprocket-shaft $7 and each of said front sprockets 85 may include spaced apart sprocket members 88. The sprocket members 88 receive therebetween in interleaved relation tooth portions of atop idle sprocket 89 which may be carried on a shaft 90 supported by a bracket 91 carried on the top of the top flange of the channel section member 45. The top sprocket 89 in its interleaved engagement with the spaced sprocket members 88 serves to grasp and hold a roller 68 of the chain means as at 92. Ro1lers68 being fed to the interleaved top and bottom sprockets 89 and 88 are confined and guided into close relationship with the sprocket roller openings in the bottom sprockets by a curved guide wall 93 secured to the frame member 38 as by angle clips 94 or other suitable manner.

It will thus be apparent that the provision of the top sprocket 89 and the manner in which the rollers 68 and links 66 of the chain are contained as they pass around the bottom sprocket 85 positively assures that each roller of the chain means is held in selected relation with respect to the sprocket and cannot be urged out of the roller sprocket openings because of forces acting on the chain means as later described.

The drive means for the roller chain means 23 may also include a motor means 95 carried by the frame means below the infeed section 30 of the sizing apparatus. The motor means 95 may be of any suitable make and manufacture and may be connected with the sprockets 85 by a drive chain means 96 having engagement with a drive member 97 at a drive shaft and having connection with a driven pulley or sprocket 98 carried on an outer extension 99of the sprocket shaft 87. The back sprockets 86 may be driven at virtually the same rate of rotation as the front sprockets 85 by means of a direct drive connection between sprocket shaft 87 and the sprocket shaft 100 interconnecting the pair of sprockets 86 at the back end of the sizing apparatus. Such interconnection between the sprocket shafts 87 and 189 maybe any direct ratio driving arrangement and may include an endless chain 180a in engagement with sprockets 101b, 1810 carried on outer shaft extensions of sprocket shafts 87 and 100.

Means for holding the top run or upper lay of the chain means 23 under a compressive force which causes the chain means to be disposed in compact folded relation at the inclined section 31) of the sizing conveyor and to maintain said upper run of the chain means in engagement with the top and bottom tracks during progressive expansion of the sizing rolls may comprise a pair of spaced sprocket elements 101 (FIG. 12) which comprises a rear sprocket 86, The sprocket elements 101 are not fixed to sprocket shaft 100 but instead are freely mounted thereon.

Sprocket shaft 1% has an extension which may be sup ported in a depending bracket 102 carried by the bottom flange of the channel section member 46.

Inwardly of sprocket elements 101 a tension plate liM may be secured to a hub member 105 which may be keyed to the shaft 1% in well known manner for rotation therewith. The inner sprocket element 101 may include a hub portion 107 which may extend into proximity with the tension plate 184 and which may carry an adjustable guide bolt 188 extending through a curved slot 109 provided in the tension plate 104. The tension plate 164 and the hub 1437 of the inner sprocket element 101 may be interconnected .by a suitable coil spring 110 having one end connected by a bolt to the hub member 107 and its other end by a bolt to the tension plate 104.

It will thus be apparent that rotational force components transmitted to sprocket shaft 101) will be transmitted while subject to the bias of spring 110 in a direction opposite to thetravel of the chain. Thus a compressive force is imposed upon the chain means and is directed toward the front end of the sizing apparatus for holding the roller chain means in the desired folded relation as determined by the uniform andvariable spacing apart of the top and bottom tracks. At the discharge end of the track means 22 and as the spacing be tween the top and bottom tracks decreases to spacing substantially that of the roller diameter, the roller chain will tend to assume its flat expanded relation before it reaches the discharge end because of the weight of the chain, accumulated slack in the chain, and of possible slight differences in rotation of the shafts 87 and 100. The compressive forces of the springs acting upon the floating sprockets 86 will maintain and holdthe rollers 68 in positive contact with the top and bottom track grooves so that the chain means does not unfold. alongits length in the track means except as desired.

At the discharge end of the sizing conveyor, the sprockets 86 may be provided with a curved guard member 112 supported by suitable spaced brackets 113 which may be secured to the frame means in suitable manner. Above each sprocket means 86 and interleaved between the top portions of the sprocket members 101 may be a longitudinally extending plate 114 which is provided with a bottom edge 115 against which the rollers may bear as they leave the end of the track means 22, the rollers being held in a selected defined path as they approach and are engaged by the sprocket means 86. The plate 114 may be secured to a bracket 116 in suitable manner.

At the forward feed section of the sizing conveyor, means are provided for directing adjacent rolls 68 of the roller chain means into alternate displaced relation along the track means. As noted above, the front sprockets 85, the top sprockets 92, and the curved guide plate 95 cooperateto confine the rollers 68 of the chain means to a selected path. This selected path is further defined as the rollers are directed alternately into engagement with the top and bottom track means by a pair of longitudinally extending plates 120 and 121 provided with opposed parallel guide edges 122 and 123, respectively, which cause each roller to move with its axis along a straight path perpendicular to a diametrical plane passing through the axis of the shafts 87, 90 of the top and bottom sprockets. After a roller has passed slightly beyond the periphery of the sprockets 86 and 92, each of theedges 122 and 123 smoothly merge with diverging slightly concave edges 124 and 125 which smoothly merge with the top and bottomtrack grooves respectively. Each edge 124 and 125 may be only slightly curved and a chord of each such edge may form an angle of approximately 24 to 30 degrees. edges 124 and 125, are relatively critical in order that the rollers 68 may be alternately fed to the top and bottom grooves respectively without jamming of the roller chain. F

'It should be noted that along the top run of the roller chain means not only are both ends of the roller chain means (at the front and back sprockets 85 and 86) held in a confined path but also that the biased back sprockets 86 serve to impose a compressive force in a direction against the direction of travel of the chain means in such a manner that the rollers are positively held'in said. selected path of travel and are alternately directed into engagement with the top and bottom guide tracks. It should be noted that the upwardly inclined feed section 30 of the track means will provide a gravitational force also tending to require the rollers to be directed alternately to the top and bottom track grooves. i I

Along each sizing roll 24 maybe provided a plurality of axially spaced grommets 130. Dependingupon the type of article being sized the shape, configuration, length and diameter of the grommets may'va r'y. Forexample, if lemons are being sized then one shape of grommet may be preferred; if potatoes are being sized another 1 shape or configuration of grommets may be used.'. In

This angle, together with the length of varied while volume is kept constant.

the present example, the grommets illustrated are shaped and configured to size potatoes in accordance with volume.

The particular configuration of the exterior surface of a grommet 130 and its length may be determined by plotting the exterior configuration of the grommet surface as follows and with respect to potatoes which are quite irregular in shape, in length, and in diameter. If the sizing classification is, for example, two ounces, four ounces, six ounces and nine ounces, a series of curves may be plotted wherein the potato is considered of elliptical cross section and the major and minor axes are For example, in the sizing classification of nine ounces and assuming elliptical cross section of the potato, a series of curves may be plotted according to such elliptical cross section. Such curvesmay be plotted as in FIG. 13, the designation of 9B, 6E,'4E, 2E representing 9, 6, 4 and 2 ounce elliptical. The density of the potato may be determined and considered as a constant.

The potato may also be considered as including a generally cylindrical configuration with hemispherical ends. Then in similar manner a plurality of curves as 9C, 65, 4C, 2C may be plotted for different dimensions along the major and minor axis with constant volume. After these two sets of curves have been plotted for a particular sizing classification they may then be superimposed as indicated in FIG. 13 and a composite of the constant volume curves selected. The composite curve may also be determined by combining curve characteristics of the other volume sizing classifications so that the resultant exterior configured surface of the grommet may represent a composite of all of such curves. When grommets so configured and shaped are placed in selected spaced relation along the sizing rolls and in alignment, it will be apparent that two adjacent rolls and the adjacent four grommets define a pocket which has the peculiar composite curved configuration as determined above. Thus as the sizing rolls are advanced along the sizing section, potatoes having the smaller size will be supported at four points by the four grommets at points on the surfaces of the grommets relating to the predetermined volume of an article. Thus the smaller side classifications will contact the grommets at that portion of the composite curve correlated to its classification and as the sizing rollers spread apart such potatoes as are sized by volume W111 fall between the rollers and through the pockets onto the collecting transversely moving conveyor.

As the sizing conveyor continues to advance and the sizing rollsare spaced further apart by the convergence of the top and bottom tracks, potatoes having a volume as progressively predetermined by the configuration of the grommets will be permitted by the sizing rolls and grommets to fall onto vthe transversely collecting conveyor. v

More specifically, the curvature of the grommets 1s such that for each variation of the relationship between major and minor axes of articles having same volume (and approximately the same weight), the article will pass through the grommet pocket at a preselected spacing apart .of the sizing rolls. Thus a potato of 9 ounces will be passed through a pocket if it is a long thin potato or a short round-like potato.

It will be readily understood that an effective, simplified sizer construction has been described which'utilizes standard roller chain means and which reduces wear and maintenance on the sizer roll and chain assembly. Moreover, the configuration of the track means may be readily changed so that predetermined sizing classifications may be readily obtained,

It will be understood that other means may be used to hold and maintain the chain means in folded relation mean for imparting a uniform drag force to the movement of the top lay, such as an idle sprocket engaged with the roller chain, friction means engaged with the roller chain,

an upwardly inclined section adjacent the discharge end, and the like. It will be understood that the drag force should be controllable so that a relatively uniform; force is imparted to the chain means against its direction of movement.

While simple sleeve bearings have been illustrated to provide a connection between the sizing roll and chain roller, other bearings may he used such as roller or ball bearings. Such freely rotatable sizing rolls may be required to be controlled as to rate of rotation. If the rate is too fast, articles may be bounced and tossed on the infeed section 30; if too slow, articles may not be properly oriented. The invention contemplates means for controlling the rate of rotation of the sizing rolls as by increasing or decreasing the diameter of an attachable circular flange member carried at one end of a sizing roll for rolling contact with a top or bottom friction member as previously described. 'In this instance the bottom track flange 52 may be slightly wider to cooperate with the circular member between roller chain and the end grommet 24. Other structural changes may be made at this vicinity to accomplish this purpose.

It is important to note that each roller chain means 23 is so disposed with its rollers and links in the same vertical longitudinally extending planar zone as that defined by the top and bottom oppositely facing guide tracks. Since each sizing roll 24 is carried by an extension of one of the shafts of the rollers 68 it will be apparent that oifset or moment loading of the linkage arrangement will be substantially eliminated and wear and maintenance of the track means and the roller chain means will be reduced to a minimum.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that means may be provided on the infeed section 30 for rotating the normally freely rotating sizing rolls in either direction in order to produce desired'orientation of the particular article being sized. It may also be desirable to provide such means along the sizing section of the conveyor for particular articles although it will be understood that for many articles positive rotation of the sizing rolls in the sizing section may not be desired. Such means for causing rotation of the rolls may simply consist of a friction member in contact with ends of the rolls in order to impart rotational movement thereto as the rolls are advanced by the chain means. 7

It will be readily understood that an effective, simplified sizer construction has been described which utilizes standard roller chain means and which reduces "wear and maintenance on the sizer roll and chain assembly.

' in contact with the tracks. Such other means may include rollers being coaxial with adjacent ends of said sizing rolls; a track means including top and bottom track grooves facing each other and receiving therebetween said roller chain means with alternate chain rollers in engagement with said top and bottom track grooves; said bottom track groove rollably supporting the chain rollers connected tosaid sizing rolls; means at one end of said track means for driving aid roller chain means along said track means; said top and bottom track grooves having an upwardly inclined section in generally uniform spaced relation for alternate compact folded relation of said roller chain means and havinganother section in nonuniform spaced relation for varying the folded relation of said roller chain means; and means at the other end a! of said track means having a driving connection with said drive means and holding said chain means in such folded relation under compressive forces directed against the direction of movement of the roller chain means along said track means.

2. In a sizing apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said means for holding said chain means in folded relation includes a sprocket in engagement wtih said roller chain means and biased in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said chain means.

3. In a sizing apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said top and bottom track grooves and said rollers and chain links all lie in the same planar zone whereby said driving forces and said opposed compressive forces also act in said zone.

4. In a sizing apparatus as stated in claim 1 wherein said top and bottom track grooves include oppositely diverging concavely curved edge faces at said inclined section for alternately directing chain rollers for compactly folding the roller chain means.

5. In an apparatus for sizing articles of variable form and volume comprising: a plurality of parallel sizing rolls; a pair of endless roller chain means each having spaced chain links and chain rollers therebetween in pivotally interconnected relation, alternate chain rollers being coaxially connected to ends of adjacent sizing rolls; a pair of track means for said pair of roller chain means, each track means having a guide and support track for chain rollers connected to said sizing rolls and an opposed guide and roll spacing track for the other chain rollers directly above and spaced from said first guide track to define a roller chain means receiving space, said track means including an inclined track portion for forming the sizing rolls in close spaced relation to support all sizes of articles, and a track portion for variably spacing said sizing rolls to support articles for selected volume; means at one end of said track means for driving said roller chain means; and means at the other end of said track means connected withsaid driving means and holding said roller chain means in positive engagement with said guide tracks under a compressive force opposed to the direction of movement of said roller chain means.

6. An apparatus as stated in claim 5 wherein said means for holding said roller chain means under said compressive force including a sprocket connected with said drive means and means biasing saidl sprocket against the chain means.

7. In a sizer for articles such as lemons, oranges and grapefruit or the like, having different shape, size and volume characteristics, the combination of: a frame ineluding a sizing zone; track means at said zone including an adjustable top track face and a bottom track face in opposing relation and in the same plane and defining a roller chain receiving space; a roller chain means movable in said receiving space and including chain side links and chain rollers between said links and pivotally connected thereto, one set of alternate rollers being supported and guided on said bottom track face; a plurality of sizer rolls each coaxially connected to said alternate chain rollers; a drive means at one end of said frame means engaging said chain rollers; and means at the other end of said frame means for engagement with said chain rollers, driven by said drive means, and including means imparting longitudinal compressive forces to said roller chain means to engage the other set of alternate chain rollers with the top track face.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,695 4/16 Carlson.

1,489,585 4/24 Tinklepaugh 20984 2,263,113 11/41 Wichorek et al.

2,534,054 12/50 P-arkes 198-129 2,656,178 10/53 Hughes.

2,661,840 12/53 Ballard 209106 2,714,452 8/55 Lorence 209-106 2,917,170 12/59 Flodin 20984 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, ABRAHAM BERLIN, ERNEST A. FALLER, 1a., Examiners. 

1. IN A SIZING APPARATUS HAVING SIZING ROLLS, THE COMBINATION OF: A ROLLER CHAIN MEANS COMPRISING SPACED PARALLEL CHAIN LINKS AND CHAIN ROLLERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BETWEEN AND AT ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID LINKS, ALTERNATE CHAIN ROLLERS BEING COAXIAL WITH ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID SIZING ROLLS; A TRACK MEANS INCLUDING TOP AND BOTTOM TRACK GROOVES FACING EACH OTHER AND RECEIVING THEREBETWEEN SAID ROLLER CHAIN MEANS WITH ALTERNATE CHAIN ROLLERS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TOP AND BOTTOM TRACK GROOVES; SAID BOTTOM TRACK GROOVE ROLLABLY SUPPORTING THE CHAIN ROLLERS CONNECTED TO SAID SIZING ROLLS; MEANS AT ONE OF SAID TRACK MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID ROLLER CHAIN MEANS ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS; SAID TOP AND BOTTOM TRACK GROOVES HAVING AN UPWARDLY INCLINED SECTION IN GENERALLY UNIFORM SPACED RELATION FOR ALTERNATE COMPACT FOLDED RELATION OF SAID ROLLER CHAIN MEANS AND HAVING ANOTHER SECTION IN NONUNIFORM SPACED RELATION FOR VARYING THE FOLDED RELATION OF SAID ROLLER CHAIN MEANS; AND MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID TRACK MEANS HAVING A DRIVING CONNECTION WITH SAID DRIVE MEANS AND HOLDING SAID CHAIN MEANS IN SUCH FOLDED RELATION UNDER COMPRESSIVE FORCES DIRECTED AGAINST THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE ROLLER CHAIN MEANS ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS. 